Northampton to make 17 parking spots behind and next to City Hall available at night

The public is about to get a few more parking options at night, including 17 spots behind and next to City Hall currently reserved around-the-clock for the mayor and various city administrators.

The City Council last week, on first reading, approved an ordinance amendment that frees up seven parking spaces on the east side of the City Hall lot and 10 spots next to Memorial Hall between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The 17 spaces will continue to be reserved for municipal use weekdays during the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., though the mayor, city clerk, auditor, treasurer, tax collector, assessor, nurse, and human resources, veterans services and central services staff will no longer have designated spots.

The Transportation and Parking Commission recommended the change, reasoning that having these spaces reserved 24 hours a day is a waste of resources given the lack of municipal use in the evening.

There are a few exceptions. The first parking space on Crafts Avenue closest to Main Street will continue to be reserved, only for Central Services rather than the city messenger, and the Building Department will continue to have four designated spots at the back of the Puchalski Municipal Building.

The amendment also deletes eight spaces reserved in the Round House lot behind the Puchalski building that had been reserved for use by the finance and MIS directors, assessor, superintendent and other school personnel, the Board of Health and the downtown maintenance supervisor.